First apartment / room-by-room
Your first apartment, one room at a time.
Tell us the budget, the roommates, and what the place already has. Get a room-by-room list with rough costs, a move-in order, and a printable sheet you can carry through the door.
Free · No signup · Saved in this browser
Rough estimates, not a quote. Furniture, deposits, and local prices vary. Measure the door and the room before buying anything large.
Your first apartment list
Start with the paperwork and the bed. The rest can arrive after you have lived in the space for a week.
No list yet Before the boxes
Add your move-in date, budget, roommates, and what the apartment already has. The list will group itself by phase and room.
First apartment / setup estimate
Move-in sheet
The lease is the first checklist.
Read the document before you buy a sofa. The rules decide what you can hang, paint, park, and keep.
Before the first night
Photograph the empty unit, confirm the keys and fobs, test the smoke and CO alarms, and find the main water shutoff. Put the landlord’s maintenance number in your phone before the Wi-Fi is connected.
Buy the boring things first
A bed, bedding, towels, a shower curtain, toilet paper, a cleaning kit, and one pot will get you through the first week. Furniture can wait until you know how you use the room. Measure the door, elevator, and stair turn before ordering anything large.
Keep a deposit file
Date-stamped photos, the signed lease, the move-in checklist, and receipts for any repairs. If the landlord promises a fix, confirm it in writing. A calm paper trail is cheaper than a deposit dispute.
The first-month budget
Rent is not the whole cost. Add utilities, internet, renter’s insurance, laundry, parking, and the setup list. A first apartment can be furnished slowly; a missed bill is harder to undo.
Roommate rules
Split shared items by agreement, not by memory. Decide who buys the vacuum, who holds the lease, and what happens if someone leaves. The planner increases shared quantities and shows a per-person estimate, but the conversation is still yours.
Moving into an apartment? Use the dated apartment moving plan for the elevator, parking, and handover. This page is the room-by-room setup list; the two work together.
Good questions.
Short answers. Your lease and landlord decide the details.
What should I buy before moving into my first apartment?
Start with the lease, renter’s insurance, utilities, a cleaning kit, bedding, towels, a shower curtain, basic kitchenware, and a bed. Add furniture and a sofa after you have measured the space and lived in it for a week.
How much does a first apartment cost to set up?
It varies by what is furnished and what you already own. The planner gives a rough US estimate for the items you select; it is a starting budget, not a quote. Add deposits, first month’s rent, and utility activation separately.
Should I buy furniture before moving in?
Only the bed and a place to sit if you need them immediately. Measure the door, elevator, and room first. A sofa that does not fit is an expensive lesson.
What should I photograph at move-in?
Walls, floors, ceilings, appliances, windows, blinds, bathroom fixtures, and the utility meters. Date-stamp the photos and email them to yourself or the landlord so the condition record is independent.
Do I need renter’s insurance?
Most leases require liability coverage, and it also protects your belongings. Compare the deductible and whether the policy covers accidental water damage, theft, and temporary housing.
How do I split the list with roommates?
The planner increases quantities for shared items and shows a per-person estimate. Decide who buys what before move-in day; a shared spreadsheet is cheaper than three mops and no trash can.